[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 62 (Monday, May 9, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2779-S2780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Ms. Ayotte):
S. 910. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that
veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive
services in at least one full-service Department of Veterans Affairs
medical center in the State or receive comparable services provided by
contract in the State, and for other purposes; to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs.
Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Veterans
Health Equity Act of 2011. This bill would require the Department of
Veterans Affairs to ensure that every State has either a full-service
veterans hospital or, in the alternative, that veterans in every State
have access to comparable in-state hospital care and medical services.
I am pleased that my colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Ayotte, has
agreed to be an original cosponsor of this measure.
New Hampshire is currently the only State that does not have either a
full-service veterans medical center or a military hospital providing
comparable services to veterans. While the staff of the Manchester VA
Medical Center does an excellent job of caring for our State's
veterans, this facility does not provide inpatient surgical care,
emergency services or care in a number of critical specialties. This
imposes a great burden on many New Hampshire veterans who are forced to
travel out of state for a range of medical services.
New Hampshire has over 130,000 veterans and this number continues to
grow as our troops return from major deployments in the Middle East. It
is unconscionable that our veterans must board shuttles to larger VA
facilities in Massachusetts or Vermont to get the medical care they
have been promised in exchange for their service. Often, especially
during the winter months, travel is difficult in New England, and our
veterans should not be forced to drive long distances in order to
receive the medical care they have earned and deserve.
Our goal is to ensure that New Hampshire veterans get the care they
need as close to home as possible. This legislation provides the
Department of Veterans Affairs with the flexibility to achieve this end
in the most cost-effective manner. If it is not feasible for the VA to
construct a new full-service hospital in New Hampshire or to provide
the full panoply of hospital services at its existing medical center in
Manchester, the legislation simply requires the VA to contract with
other health providers to offer comparable in-state care.
I introduced similar legislation in the 111th Congress with our
former colleague, Senator Judd Gregg. Since that time, the VA has
established an effective contractual relationship with one hospital in
New Hampshire, Concord Hospital, to expand in-state care for our
veterans. I believe this type of partnership could be readily expanded.
I have begun working with officials at the Department of Veterans
Affairs to
[[Page S2780]]
find innovative ways to enhance public-private health care partnerships
in New Hampshire and look forward to furthering that dialogue.
Our veterans deserve access to first-rate medical care, regardless of
where they live. There are full-service veterans hospitals in 47 States
and veterans in Alaska and Hawaii are able to receive care at military
hospitals. New Hampshire alone has neither. I am hopeful that my
colleagues will recognize this inequity and support this effort to
provide New Hampshire veterans with the same access to quality local
health care that veterans in every other State enjoy.
I look forward to working with the entire New Hampshire congressional
delegation, with my Senate colleagues and with the Obama administration
to end this injustice.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 910
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Health Equity Act
of 2011''.
SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF FULL-SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS IN CERTAIN STATES OR
PROVISION OF COMPARABLE SERVICES THROUGH
CONTRACT WITH OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN
THE STATE.
(a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 1706 the
following new section:
``Sec. 1706A. Management of health care: access to full-
service Department medical centers in certain States or
comparable services through contract
``(a) Requirement.--With respect to each of the 48
contiguous States, the Secretary shall ensure that veterans
in the State eligible for hospital care and medical services
under section 1710 of this title have access--
``(1) to at least one full-service Department medical
center in the State; or
``(2) to hospital care and medical services comparable to
the services typically provided by full-service Department
medical centers through contract with other health care
providers in the State.
``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (a)
shall be construed to limit the ability of the Secretary to
provide enhanced care to an eligible veteran who resides in
one State in a Department medical center in another State.
``(c) Limitation on Requirement.--Subsection (a) shall be
effective in any fiscal year only to the extent and in the
amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
``(d) Full-service Department Medical Center Defined.--In
this section, the term `full-service Department medical
center' means a facility of the Department that provides
medical services, including hospital care, emergency medical
services, and surgical care rated by the Secretary as having
a surgical complexity level of standard.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1706 the following new item:
``1706A. Management of health care: access to full-service Department
medical centers in certain States or comparable services
through contract.''.
(c) Report on Implementation.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report describing
the extent to which the Secretary has complied with the
requirement imposed by section 1706A of title 38, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a), including the effect
of such requirement on improving the quality and standards of
care provided to veterans.
Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise today to highlight the Veteran's
Health Equity Act, a bill I am introducing with my colleague from the
Granite State, Senator Jeanne Shaheen. I am pleased to support this
bipartisan legislation that addresses an issue of importance to our
Nation's heroic military veterans, especially in my home State of New
Hampshire.
As a military spouse, I personally understand the commitment and
sacrifice required of our service members and their families, and I am
fully committed to ensuring that our heroes have access to the support
and care they have earned. The bill we are introducing would level the
playing field for veterans by requiring the Department of Veterans
Affairs to guarantee that veterans in every State have access to
hospital care within their borders. As it stands now, New Hampshire is
the only state in the nation without a full-service VA hospital or
military hospital providing equivalent care to veterans. Specifically,
the Veteran's Health Equity Act would require the VA to either provide
a full-service VA hospital in every State or contract with civilian
hospitals to provide veterans with a comparable level of care.
While some States, like Alaska and Hawaii, rely on large military
medical facilities to compensate for gaps in VA medical care, New
Hampshire lacks the military medical facilities to compensate for a
lack of a full-service VA hospital. Yet, New Hampshire has one of the
highest rates of veterans per capita in the country. New Hampshire
veterans must travel out of State to Maine, Massachusetts, or Vermont
to access certain kinds of specialty care. Elderly veterans are often
bused by volunteers during the treacherous winter months to an out of
state service provider only to have their appointment canceled. Simply
put, the lack of a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire is
unacceptable and our veterans deserve better.
As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will continue to press
for a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire and explore all
legislative remedies to ensure that our New Hampshire veterans receive
the care they deserve. My 95 year old grandfather, John Sullivan, a
World War II veteran, and veterans like him who have selflessly served
our country, have earned high-quality medical care that is commensurate
with their courageous service. We must honor our commitments to
America's brave veterans. The Veteran's Health Equity Act will help
ensure every veteran in the United States can access quality medical
care without having to travel to another State.
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